The two Chinese brothers were down deep in the coal mine, but they were glad to hear the sound of digging above them. It was late August 2007, and the two men were trapped in one of China’s dangerous coal mines after the tunnels had broken down. They thought they would soon be rescued.
The little bit of light from a cell phone helped them to see for two days, but when the battery died, they were in complete darkness. At the same time, the sound of digging stopped! The men above ground thought that the two brothers must be dead by now. “There’s no use trying to rescue them any longer,” they decided.
The two brothers still needed a rescuer, but nobody was going to come. Their families thought they were dead too, and they cried. And down deep underground the two men cried as they thought about their danger. They were dirty, hungry, thirsty and anxious in the darkness.
I am so glad that in the darkness of our sinful condition, God does not give up on us. He knows where boys and girls are and what they are doing or have done. He has heard your quiet prayers for help. He remembers more of your sins than you do, but He wants to save you from your sins and bring you into the light of salvation.
The two brothers dug three tunnels but stopped digging, because they felt they were going in the wrong direction. Then they started digging a tunnel almost straight up. They dug their way through seventy feet (twenty meters) of rock and coal, working with a pick and their hands. They ate coal to make themselves feel full and take away their hunger.
After nearly six days underground, they finally got to the surface. They were so weak they could hardly even crawl. They completely surprised everyone and were taken to a hospital right away.
Of course you can’t work your way to God, but you can be rescued where you are. Maybe you’re trying to be a better person. That’s good—but it won’t buy salvation. Maybe you intend to obey your dad and mom more often. That would be good too—but that’s not how a person gets rescued from their sins.
Would it surprise you to hear that the Bible says the price of salvation has already been paid? The Lord Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)). He died because of my sin—He paid the price! Children, the Lord Jesus is the Saviour of sinners. “Our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity” (Titus 2:13-1413Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13‑14)). He wants to save you where you are, no matter how deep down in problems you are.
Can you imagine how dirty those men were when they got out of the mine? They were black as coal, inside and out. But they were soon washed clean. Our sins are blacker than coal, and only the Lord Jesus can wash us clean. He’s not giving up, but He won’t save you if you want to just stay as you are and enjoy your black sins. Will you come to Him? He’s right there near you wherever you are and waiting for you.
ML-03/02/2008